[at-l] AT Guidebook History

[jbullar1 at twcny.rr.com (Jim Bullard)]

At 11:44 AM 10/7/2003 -0400, RoksnRoots@aol.com wrote:


>       Interesting to note was last night's Ken Burns special on the first 
> cross-country trip by automobile by a Vermont man in 1903.
>
>        They showed the first road maps and guides for cars. The 'map' was 
> actually a guidebook exactly like the AT guidebook with instructions like 
> "proceed from water trough to end of fence row. Turn left after 100 yards 
> and proceed towards woods, etc" Just like an AT guidebook and the same size.
>
>     Roads back then were most dirt and mostly in the country. So, they 
> resembled paths going through the countryside like the AT. Their 
> landmarks were similar. After seeing an example of a 1903 road map 
> guidebook I was certain the original and present guidebooks were based on 
> this format from the same era, for the two are nearly identical...
>
>         Amazing...

That was a fascinating program. Mr. Jackson exhibited a lot of long 
distance hiker qualities too. He solved problems as they arose, maintained 
a positive attitude and never gave up.
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